GVSHP recently met with the new Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair to stress the importance of landmarking the remaining parts of our proposed South Village Historic District, and continues to push hard for the City to consider our contextual rezoning plan for the South Village. Under our rezoning proposal, a development of the scale planned at 134 West Houston Street would not be possible; unfortunately, under the existing zoning, and lacking landmark protections, a development of the scale planned for this site is currently allowable without any public review or special approvals.

134 West Houston Street is far from the only site in the South Village threatened with inappropriate development, or where historic buildings have been lost. Nearby, three other 19th century houses at 178 Bleecker Street, 186 Spring Street, and 54 MacDougal Street were demolished. At 178 Bleecker Street, at the northern end of the 134 West Houston Street block, a 74-ft. tall building is being constructed; 186 Spring and 54 MacDougal Street, which each dated to the early 19th century, remain holes in the ground after the historic structures were demolished, with development plans in limbo.
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